London Transport Museum Acton Depot...

Yesterday Darce & I went to an open day at the London Transport Museum Depot in London's glitzy Acton Town.

The place is packed full of trains, trams, buses, signs, tiles, & roundels. TFL porn basically.

We loved it. 

The Mikado @ Wilton’s Music Hall…

Last night, Stuart and I went to see Opera della Luna’s The Mikado at Wilton’s Music Hall in London’s glitzy E1.   

The production is a fabulously flamboyant romp through Titipu-as-a-fashion-runway, where Gilbert and Sullivan meet Gaultier and the satire struts in heels.  

Director Jeff Clarke swaps out kimonos for couture, giving the classic operetta a makeover that would make RuPaul proud. 

The cast delivers laughs and high notes in equal measure - Matthew Scott Clark’s Ko-Ko is a comic whirlwind, while Kelli-Ann Masterson’s Yum-Yum hits all the right notes (musical and otherwise).  

The small orchestra punches well above its weight under Michael Waldron’s baton, and the slick musicality keeps pace with the chaos onstage. 

Sure, the show sidesteps some of the original’s more outdated elements with a wink and a smirk - but a few creaky bits still peek through the seams.  

All in all, it’s a stylish, silly, and sharp revival that proves The Mikado still has legs - especially when they’re strutting down a catwalk.

Madonna - Ray of Light Remix Album…

I’m considering buying a record player just to get this…. Madonna’s Ray of Light remix album out next month 🤪🤩

https://shopuk.madonna.com/products/veronica-electronica-vinyl-exclusive-lithograph 

Union Chapel…

The Union Chapel is stunning building just off Islington’s glitzy Upper Street. 

A working place of worship, it also hosts live events to keep the lights on; comedy shows, gigs, recitals, opera, concerts, you name it.

It’s a beautiful space to see performance - often just lit by candles.   

I’ve seen Marc Almond, Goldfrapp The Fratellis, Bjork, Beck, Cerys Matthews, Eddi Reader, Ian McCulloch, Mika, The King's Singers, Alexandra Burke, Alphabeat, V V Brown, Sparks, Mavis Staples, PP Arnold, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Melanie, The Three Degrees, Hugh Cornwell, Hazel O'Connor, Barbara Dickson, & Arseblog to name but a few. 

A little while ago I went on a guided tour.  We got to visit some of the back rooms, the back passages, and play with the organ. Ooh-er. 

Here’s a potted history of the place…

1799 - The congregation is found by a union of nonconformists & Anglicans, hence the name Union Chapel.

1806 - The first Union Chapel is built on Compton Terrace.

1850s & 60s - Union Chapel becomes a rather fashionable & is known for the musicality of its services.

1872 - Having out-grown the original building a decision is taken to build a new Union Chapel, competition is launched to find design - it's won by James Cubitt.

1877 - The new Union Chapel, the building we know & love today, is opened. It is a church designed with music in mind. It includes one of countries finest organs, hidden behind the pulpit & a beautiful rose window featuring 8 angels each playing a different instrument.

1920s - The congregation starts to decline.

1944 - The Chapel is badly damaged by a bomb which killed 26 people. All the glass on north side of building is blown out & the Sunday School Hall is used as a shelter for those left homeless by the blast.

1981 - The building, which is in a terrible state of disrepair is scheduled for demolition. But local residents campaign tirelessly & it is saved.

1992 - The first gigs start to happen as a way to raise money for Chapel & to allow people to enjoy the space. The Margins Project for those homeless & in crisis is formed.

2000s - Voted London's best venue in 2002, '06, '12 & '14. With the help of grants & donations carry out major repair works to the roof of chapel, tower & organ. And become first place of worship in Islington authorised to carry out same sex weddings.

2025 - Celebrates 148 years standing!

If you get chance to see a performance there, go!

Kylie @ O2 Arena…

Last night, Darren, Vince, and I (and the world and his husband) went to see Kylie Minogue perform at the O2 Arena in London’s glitzy North Greenwich. 

She’s still got it. 

The songs were a perfect blend of old favourites, mid-career pop bangers, and her more modern TikTok friendly stuff. 

Everybody seemed to know the words of every song and were singing along throughout. 

The stage show was great without being distracting. 

  

The dancing was good and the band very tight too.  

Kylie wore seven different costumes (six changes) if I counted them correctly. 

Midway through the gig Kylie moved into the middle of the arena to an acoustic satellite stage where she took requests as well as performing some songs accompanied just by a guitar.  

In between all the songs she was chatty, personable, vulnerable, and friendly.  She seemed to be as pleased to be there as we were. 

If you get a chance to go and see her, you won’t be disappointed. 

Kylie Minogue Setlist

Act I

Lights Camera Action (Shortened; with elements of "Diamonds" in intro)

In Your Eyes (shortened)

Get Outta My Way (shortened)

What Do I Have to Do?

Come Into My World

Good As Gone

Spinning Around (with excerpt of "Got to Be Real")

Act II

Taboo (Interlude)

On Night Like This (Pandora cover) (shortened)

last night i dreamt i fell in love (Alok & Kylie Minogue song)

Better Devil You Know

Shocked (shortened)

Things We Do for Love

Dancing

The Loco-Motion (Carole King cover)

Act III - Acoustic Satellite Stage

Hold On to Now

Hand on Your Heart (acapella snippet, fan request)

Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi (acapella snippet, fan request)

Midnight Ride (Orville Peck, Kylie Minogue & Diplo song) (acapella snippet, fan request)

I Believe in You (acapella snippet, fan request)

2 Hearts (acapella snippet, fan request)

Where The Wild Roses Grow (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds cover) (acapella, sung to fan)

Say Something (Acoustic)

Supernova / Real Groove / Magic / Where Does The DJ Go? (including elements of Last Night A DJ Saved My Life)

Act IV

Confide in Me

Slow

Timebomb (shortened)

Edge of Saturday Night (The Blessed Madonna & Kylie Minogue song)

Act V

Tension

Can't Get You Out of My Head

All The Lovers

Encore:

Padam Padam

Love At First Sight (Ruff & Jam US Radio Mix)

Start time: 8:30 pm

Played for 2h 4m

Give Blood…. If you can. Please.

What’s that you say, save somebody’s life* AND get a KitKat?! 

I haven’t given blood for over 40 years. Okay, for quite a few of those I wasn’t allowed to. But that has long since changed for many people. 

It took 30 minutes from walking in the door to walking out again; 10 minutes to do the form / answer a few questions, 10 minutes to give blood, and 10 minutes to try and persuade the charming nurse if I could have a second KitKat (I could). 

https://www.blood.co.uk/

@GiveBloodNHS

*up to three people’s